by Erin Trejo
“You Blu?” The main man asks as he climbs off his bike. Blu watches him intently as he steps closer. All of us are on edge as we take in the other club. As calm as it seems right now, that can change in an instant.
“I’m Blu.”
“I’m Nixon. You wanna tell me why the fuck you think we had shit to do with your club?” The man is clearly pissed by the accusations.
“Your men were found dead or did you not fuckin’ notice?” I throw back at him as I step up next to Blu. My hands clench at my sides, but what I really want is to blow his damn head off.
“We don’t have any missin’ men! Why the fuck you think we’re here?” he snaps, his nostrils flaring.
“They had on Dragon cuts!” I retort.
“You tellin’ me I don’t know my own men? You’re askin’ for war.” He grits his teeth. I take a step forward when Blu steps in front of me.
“We had three dead in the motherfuckin’ club. All three had Dragons cuts on! Why don’t you tell me what that means?” Blu growls. He advances on the guy; his rage is palpable.
“You have my fuckin’ word that those weren’t my men. You think I’m a fuckin’ coward? I’d stake claim to anything that I did!”
I watch the look in his eyes. He’s not lying no matter how much I wanted to think he was. Someone used his club as a front and Brooke is in danger. I need to know she’s okay right now.
“Fuck!” I roar, pulling my cell phone from my pocket. I dial Mouse.
“Hey, Dec. I tried to keep her here. She fuckin’ choked me, brother.”
I don’t even let him finish talking. I hit the end button and yell as loud as my lungs will let me. If anything happens to her, I swear to God, I will take everyone out.
“What’s the problem?” Blu turns on his heel to look at me.
“She’s gone. Kicked Mouse’s ass and left.”
The guys all curse under their breath when Nixon speaks. “I got a spot right down the road. You wanna hit it? Get my boys runnin’ some intel?”
Blu’s eyes come to meet mine. I nod once. “We won’t say sorry; it’s not how we roll. We fuckin’ saw the cuts and went with it,” I tell Nixon.
He shakes his head clearly understanding what I’m saying. “No worries on that, brother. I would have done the same. Let’s find your girl and the motherfuckers usin’ my club.” I can see it in his eyes - he’s ok with this.
“Let’s roll!” I bellow out.
I climb on my bike and rev the engine. The need to get the fuck out of here and find my girl is eating at me. The not knowing where she is is what’s killing me. I hate that sense of dread tugging at my gut. I hate that I can’t be there holding her, protecting her, like I promised.
We pull out and follow behind the Dragons. I don’t know where the fuck they are taking us, but I want to believe that they are telling the truth. Nothing in his posture or tone makes me believe otherwise.
I get lost in the rhythm of the road as we ride. My head is spinning. There are so many things I want to say to her. So, many things I want to share with her. I don’t want to miss my chance because something has happened to her. I fucking love that girl, and when I get my hands on her, I’m never letting her go.
Chapter 40
Brooke
I park the car and head into the back door of the club. I know it isn’t open. Hell, I’m the one who closed it down after that shoot out. Declan told me the guys took care of the dead bodies that littered my floor. I didn’t ask questions simply because I didn’t want to know the answers.
I step through the door and around all the plaster that was crumbled by the gunfire. I shake my head knowing that I may never get the chance to open this club back up and get it running. My uncle would be so disappointed in me for letting all this come down. He worked harder than anyone I know to keep this club going, and I ruined it.
Heading into my office, I sit in my chair and think. If they aren’t here where the fuck are they? I can’t let Declan get hurt for something that doesn’t have to do with his club. He’s too much of a good person. Sure, he does illegal things, but he’s good to me.
I lay my head on the desk until I hear a noise. I slip off the chair and slowly creep around the desk and toward the door.
I start to look out when big hands grab me. My instincts kick in. My training flashes before my eyes. I throw the first punch, colliding with a bone. When I’m grabbed from behind, I throw my head back before I hear it.
“Jesus Christ, butterfly.”
My heart starts thudding in my ears. I look over my shoulder and collapse into Declan’s arms.
“Oh my God, Declan! You scared the shit out of me!” I yell at him. He holds me tighter, a chuckle vibrating through his chest.
“Sorry. You wanna tell me how you got away from Mouse?” When he sets me down, I turn to face him and take in his disapproving expression.
“I might have threatened him,” I say sheepishly.
“You might have threatened one of my prospects? Is that what you’re tellin’ me?” His face remains stern. My heart kicks up a notch.
“Yeah. I might have headlocked him, too.” I look away not wanting to meet his gaze any longer than I have to. His hand comes up to cup my cheek, pulling my face back to his.
“So, you think you can just threaten my prospects and headlock them and run the fuck away from me? Is that what you’re doin’?” His eyes burn into me. So, deeply.
“Declan, I just wanted to find you.”
His lips slam into mine. His tongue darts into my mouth. The way he kisses me makes my heart stop. The world around us stops.
“You can’t do that without payin’ for it,” Declan growls. He holds me close, the world slowly coming back into view.
“I think you’re both gonna be payin’.”
A growl startles me from behind. Declan’s eyes go wide. His features harden.
“You the motherfucker that came after my girl?” The growl that leaves him rattles me through his chest.
“You made it easy,” the guy says.
I turn in Declan’s arms and gasp. My mind works overtime trying to put a name to this face. I know this man! I’ve seen him before.
“Who the fuck are you?” Declan asks.
The guy grins, his gun trained on us. “She’s figurin’ it out.” He nods at me. Declan pulls me closer to him.
“I’m gonna ask you again. Who the fuck are you?” Declan gets louder this time. He’s vibrating behind me. His rage is off the charts. I can feel it.
“Uncle Darren?” I say not sure that I remember him exactly. As soon as his smile reaches his eyes, I know it’s him. He looks just a lot like my dad. I haven’t seen him in years, not since I was a kid. He came to my dad’s funeral but disappeared after that.
“Now you remember me,” Darren says.
“Why? Why are you doing this?” I ask. Declan’s hands clench around my waist.
“Oh, come on, Brooke! Your dad and uncle had it all. This club was supposed to be mine!” he roars.
“Nothing was yours! My uncle worked hard for this club, and my dad was a fucking coward. Just like you!” At my words, Darren takes a step toward me, but Declan throws me behind him.
“Don’t you fuckin’ talk to me like that!” Darren roars.
“You bastard!” I scream. I try to go after him, but Declan holds me back.
“You got two choices here, Darren. Take a fuckin’ walk, or you’re dead,” Declan growls from behind me.
“I don’t think that’s right,” another voice booms from behind us.
Chapter 41
Declan
My body is a bundle of energy. My nerves are firing off. I want to strangle that motherfucker with my bare hands. I want to watch him bleed for what he’s done to Brooke.
“You motherfuckers are makin’ a big fuckin’ mistake here,” I give them a warning.
“We want what belongs to us,” Darren sneers.
I can feel the presence of the other guy behind us
. I don’t need to look at the motherfucker to know he’s there. Luckily, the guys will be headed here soon too. I knew something was off. I could feel it. I opted to come here rather than to go with them to collect the intel. I knew there was something more to this place. All I have to do is stall them until my boys show up.
“You killed him, didn’t you?” Brooke asks, moving around to my side. I let her. I don’t trust the motherfuckers in this room to not shoot her when she isn’t looking.
“He was in the way, Brooke. I tried to reason it out with him. Tried talking to him. He didn’t want to. I had to make him understand that I meant business. Then I found out he was leaving it all to you.”
I swallow hard listening to the story coming out of his mouth. I want to shove my fist through his face.
“You were a coward! Why couldn’t you make your own way!” she accuses as tears fall down her cheeks.
“You were never a threat, Brooke. I could have killed you. I could have muscled you into what I wanted, but then you went and got mixed up with this idiot.” Darren nods toward me.
Brooke starts to move, her body coiling with anger. I grip her around the waist, pulling her back into me.
“When I say ‘now’, you jump into that room. Got it?” I whisper in her ear, appearing to calm her.
Brooke starts to shake her head when I squeeze her a little tighter. I give her enough warning.
“That’s enough of this shit. Now!” I roar. I shove Brooke toward the door to her office, reaching for my gun with the other hand. I fire a shot at Darren before ducking and firing at the idiot behind me. I feel the sting as it rips through my chest. One of the assholes got a shot off, but I took the other fucker down.
I drop to the ground and roll onto my back, my gun still in hand. That’s when I see Darren holding his shoulder standing over me.
“We seem to have a situation now,” he says with an evil grin on his face. His gun’s aimed at my head, but I’m barely holding onto mine with the pain shooting through my chest. I let my arm fall to the side, the gun hitting the floor as I look up at him breathlessly.
“Do it, you fuckin’ coward,” I growl at him. He takes a step toward me, leaning down closer.
“You weren’t shit to begin with. You were nothing to anyone. You couldn’t take care of her,” he says in a low gruff tone.
“I can take care of myself,” Brooke says. The sound of a gunshot rocks the room but the blood seeping from his head before he falls on top of me is what makes me smile. His body falls roughly onto me before Brooke screams. I’m pushing him off with one hand while Brooke pulls and rolls him.
“God, Declan!” she cries when she looks down at me.
“I’m ok, butterfly.” I shove myself up with one arm trying to catch my breath. I feel like a lead weight has been set on my chest.
“Come here.” She reaches down and helps me to my feet. I stumble a little when I notice her face scrunched up.
“What’s wrong?” I ask noting the pain in her eyes.
“Nothing. My shoulder is fucked up. Let’s get out of here.” We lean on each other as we head out the back door.
“You’re late!” Brooke yells when she sees the guys climbing off their bikes.
“Yeah. Well, we like to make an entrance.” Mayhem grins at her.
“She needs her shoulder checked,” I tell him.
“Yeah, ‘cause you look great,” he comments. I cut my eyes at him when he reaches for Brooke.
“No! Him first. He was shot. I wasn’t.” Stubborn little ass. I can’t wait to get her home and spank her ass.
“Why don’t both you motherfuckers get in the truck and let Doc take a look at home. We got this.” Blu nods toward the club. I nod my head and walk over to where the truck is.
Nuts sits in the front seat eyeing us as we climb in.
“Next time, you’re on guard duty with this one,” I tell him nodding to Brooke.
“Sure thing, Dec. I saw how she choked Mouse out, though,” he chuckles.
“Take us home.”
Chapter 42
Brooke
“Stop!” I slap Declan when he tries to get up again. He’s really beginning to piss me off. Doc isn’t far behind me.
“I don’t need to lay here. I can sit,” he grumbles.
“Bullet barely missed your damn lung. You lost a lot of blood, Dec, but you’ll live,” Doc says as he stitches him up.
“Thanks for that update, Doc,” he says sarcastically.
“What about her shoulder?” he asks Doc, clearly ignoring the fact that I’m standing here.
“Dislocated. I got it back in place. It’ll be sore, but she’s fine. Neither of you girls are gonna die today,” he says with a laugh.
“I didn’t plan on it,” I say with a smile. Doc nods and grins at me before getting up.
“Keep the sling on that for a few days at least. Maybe you’ll listen better than these men do,” Doc mumbles as he leaves the room.
I sit on the edge of the bed in silence. Dec doesn’t say anything, and that’s part of what’s bothering me. I know we left things at an awkward place the other night.
“I’m sorry, Declan.” I break the silence. It needs to be said. I need him to know that I’m sorry for doubting him.
“Me too,” he says, shoving off the bed. I watch the pain settle across his face. It hurts to see him like this.
“Where are you going?” I ask when he heads toward the door. He stops when his hand lands on the doorknob, but doesn’t turn around. My heart thunders in my chest.
“I’m not what you need, Brooke. I always knew you deserved better than me.”
I gasp at his words. I don’t know what to say to him. I stand here like a fool as I watch Declan slowly walk away. He leaves the door open behind him, which I take as my cue to leave. Big hot tears fall down my cheeks as I run from the room. I turn the corner to head outside when I slam into someone. I look up through the tears and see Tic staring down at me.
“He’ll come around,” he says softly. Tic and I haven’t talked much, but I can tell he’s trying to be nice.
“I don’t think it’s that easy,” I tell him. His large hand comes up and wipes the tears from my eyes before grabbing my chin between his fingers.
“Dec’s a good guy. He has a huge heart that a lot of women want. Dec doesn’t do things halfway. He loves you, Brooke, but he’s just a little lost right now. We all get there. Don’t give up on him. Come on; I’ll walk you home.” Tic throws his arm around my waist before leading me out of the clubhouse.
It all feels so surreal. I’m leaving the clubhouse without Declan and going home to nothing.
“What are your thoughts on the club?” Tic asks as we walk down the road. I shrug my good shoulder before looking up at him.
“I’ve worked my ass off trying to keep it going. Now that it’s been down for a while and the amount of work that it’ll take to get up and running, I don’t think I can afford it.” It’s true. The damage that was done in there was extensive. I was barely keeping it going when my uncle was alive. Now it’s just a big mess.
“The construction aspect won’t be so bad. My friend owns his own company; I can get him to come in and do it.” His words slam into my heart.
We walk for a few minutes in silence until we get to my house. “Why would you do that?”
“You’re Dec’s old lady, whether you like it or not. He claimed you. You’re his. He may be actin’ like a dick right now, but he’ll come around, Brooke. He needs you, and you need him. We’re family.”
I stand here staring up at him. We’re family. That’s what he said, but I don’t have anyone anymore.
“Don’t doubt us. We’re all here, Brooke. I can see the look in your eyes. You might be fightin’ with him, but the rest of us are here.” He leans down and presses a kiss to my cheek. “Call me if you need anything.”
I watch him walk away. I stand here feeling sorry for myself. I don’t know what to do with my life, don’t know
where to turn. I walk inside and the world around me fades. Everything that I’ve ever wanted has slowly been taken away from me.
Declan hates me. I can’t blame him either.
My uncle is dead.
My dad killed my mom.
I can’t handle this anymore.
I flop onto the couch and let everything fall away as I cry.
Chapter 43
Declan
It’s been three months since the shit went down with Brooke and her uncle. I couldn’t believe how easy it was for him to mimic the fucking Dragons. Once they found the others who Darren was working with, they killed them all. I was ok with that. I was ok letting them take over and handle the rest of them. My heart hasn’t been right since she left here, though. It aches for her, but I knew from the day I met her that I wasn’t what she needed. She needs and deserves more than I can give her.
“You look like shit,” Blu says sitting across from me. I watch him light up a cigarette before passing me one.
“I feel better. This shit won’t keep me down.” Blu nods as I blow out a ring of smoke.
“I know. We’re havin’ that party tonight for Cherry’s birthday. You still up for it?”
I nod before I say, “Damn right I am. It’s been awhile since we had a good one. Nixon and his boys comin’ down?”
“Yeah. Now that other shit is sorted out, they’re back on good terms with us. That shit could’ve gone south,” he says.
I reach for my beer and take a long pull before I reply. “Yeah. I heard that. Sorry that shit got brought to the club, brother.” His eyes meet mine as he shakes his head.
“She’s family. Whether you two figure that shit out or not, you claimed her in front of everyone, Dec. We’ve kept eyes on her. Tic’s got his boys over there fixin’ the damn club. I put some money in an account to get that shit back up and runnin’. She might not like it, but the club’s gonna be a part of that shit. Thought you could talk to her about it.” My eyes jerk to his. Has he lost his fucking mind?
